Vol 5 Issue 12 Published by: PIA 6, 7 & 8 March 23 - 29, 2015

WESTERN VISAYAS

In this IssueIn this IssueIn this Issue Women urged to protect rights

WVisayas is country‟s 5th largest GDP contributor

More on Region 8, pages 6-7.

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Bogo City among 2015 UN Sasakawa winners in disaster reduction

Fayette C. Riñen

CEBU, March 24 (PIA) – The City of Bogo is one of the 33 winners

of the 2015 United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster

Reduction.

The UN Information for Disaster Reduction (UNIDR)

announced this during the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster

Risk Reduction at the Sendai International Center in Sendai, Japan

on March 17.

All the 33 winners that came from different backgrounds and

contexts were recognized due to their outstanding contributions to

disaster risk reduction.

Bogo City's flagship program on Information Management in

Preparation for Disasters or “I.M. Prepared” Program, a system of

disaster preparedness measures that starts with the family gets the

Sasakawa recognition.

Bogo Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. said the “I.M. Prepared”

program aims to change the mindset of the people from reactive to

proactive and it encompasses beyond government‟s existing

mechanisms in addressing preparedness issues down to the family

level through baseline data, family interaction and drills, capacity

building, barangay information and education drive in schools.

Martinez said a ready local government unit (LGU) can only

be achieved if the families are ready as well while they deserve the

best service from the government.

According to Martinez, most LGUs invest more on expensive

equipment and trainings for rescue teams but undermine the basic

and essential DRRM service which is family preparedness.

As a taxpayer, Martinez claimed that no one should be

exposed to hazards. If you prioritize disaster risk reduction and

management (DRRM) response alone, it is tantamount to saying

that one should first be carried away by flood water or screaming

for help before the government can serve you, said Martinez.

Another advantage of family preparedness is that the LGU

can maximize its resources efficiently, said the mayor.

Meanwhile, the four-strong Sasakawa Award Jury used a set

of criteria to select the final short-list of nominees, assessing how

influential, extensive or encompassing, permanent and innovative

the nominees actions are.

The winning Sasakawa Laureatte Allan Lavel, is a disaster risk

researcher and consultant based in Costa Rica.

Born in Britain but based in the Americas for most of his

career, Lavel is a highly respected researcher and practitioner in

disaster risk reduction.

His work spans four decades, adopting a multi-disciplinary

and holistic approach. He has also authored a number of

publications and has presented papers in 42 different countries.

Lavel on the other hand, has pledged his commitment to

coordinate with the City of Bogo and the province of Cebu through

governor Hilario Davide Jr. for possible development and replicating

the Bogo DRRM practice in other local government units.

The UNIDR stated the 2015 Sasakawa Award attracted 88

nominations from 44 countries including the Philippines which

placed its official bet on Albay Province.

Bogo‟s „I.M Prepared” program has been hailed as one of the

best practices in DRRM by the Department of the Interior and

Local Government (DILG) which also nominated Bogo to the

Sasakawa Award.

Because of the city‟s commitment to DRRM, the DOST said

it would donate a hybrid monitoring system while Phivolcs said it

would also set up a state-of-the-art solar-powered earthquake

monitoring system that allows the transmissions of data every

microsecond.

Bogo City‟s local disaster risk reduction and management

officer Ben Frederick Rodriguez, has been trained on weather

forecasting and the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and

Oceanography Center by Pagasa-Visayas.

Bogo is currently formulating its localized weather forecast in

Cebuano under the supervision of Pagasa-Visayas, the only LGU in

the Visayas capable of such. (mbcn/fcr/PIA7/with reports from Ben

Frederick Rodriguez/Bogo City)

CONSUELO B. ALARCON

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 26 (PIA) – Women‟s rights

advocates in the city encouraged all women in vulnerable

circumstances to assert their rights and file complaints against their

spouses who are circumventing their rights.

During the “Harampang ha PIA” held Thursday at PIA

Regional Office 8, Senior Police Officer 3 Marissa Monge, in-charge

of the Women‟s and Children Protection Desk of the Tacloban City

Police Office, said their office is 24 hours open to all women who

are victims of all kinds of violence or whose rights are being

violated by their husbands and partners.

“Violence against women and their children” refers to

any act or series of acts committed by any person against a woman

who is his wife, former wife, or against a woman with

whom the person has or had a sexual or dating relationship, or with

whom he has a common child, or against her child

whether legitimate or illegitimate, within or outside the family

abode, which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual,

psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including

threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or

arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

Chief Inspector Ma. Bella D. Rentuaya, Chief of the

Tacloban City Police Community Relations Office, also

said as part of their advocacy campaign police personnel

went to barangays to strengthen awareness of the

law. They even conducted family development sessions in

coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office

in 138 barangays.

“Women must be empowered and motivated to assert their

rights regardless of their level of education and or socio-economic

status. It is necessary for all individuals, especially women in

vulnerable circumstances to have full knowledge of their rights and

access to legal recourse against violations of their rights”, she

added.

Meanwhile, as an advocate of women‟s rights, Lawyer Jo Ann

Yu Balaga of PUMA Law Office gave an assurance that she is willing

to render free legal advice to women in the city who are victims of

violence.

Records at the Tacloban‟s women and children protection

desk (WCPD) show that 619 reported cases of violence against

women were recorded in 2014. Most of these are physical

violence. (ajc/cba/PIA-8)

More on Region 7, pages 4-5.

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More on Region 6, pages 2-3.

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EASTERN VISAYAS

CENTRAL VISAYAS

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

ILOILO CITY, March 23 (PIA6) --- Western Visayas is the fifth

largest contributor to the country‟s Gross Domestic Product

(GDP) in 2014, according to the National Economic and

Development Authority (NEDA)-6.

As per NEDA-6 report, the region‟s economy has a lower

Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at only 4.0 percent last

year as compared to the 4.4 percent registered in 2013 but it is still

considered one of the country‟s largest contributions to GDP.

NEDA-6 said that the region‟s economy was propelled by the

services sector at 57.9 percent, agriculture, hunting, fishery and

forestry at 23.5 percent, and the industry sector at 18.6 percent.

The region‟s employment rate increased from 93.1 percent in

2013 to 94 percent in 2014. Region 6 ranked No. 4 with the highest

employment rate as compared to other regions in the country.

Western Visayas also ranked 4th in terms of the lowest

unemployment rate in the country. The unemployment rate

decreased from 6.9 percent in 2013to 6.0 percent in 2014.

According to NEDA-6, the 2014 exports valued at

US$302.47 million increased by 12.4 percent compared in 2014.

The exportation of coal contributed to the 46 percent increase of

exports in the Port of Iloilo.

Imports also increased by 59 percent valued at P23.95 billion

compared to 2013‟s figure of P15.08 billion.

The preliminary report of the Department of Tourism

(DOT)-6 showed a total of 3.18-million total tourist arrivals in the

region for 2014.

The tourist arrivals in Western Visayas generated total

receipts amounting to P74 billion.

In terms of inflation rate, all commodities increased from 3.8

percent in 2013 to 4.7 percent last year. Compared to other

regions, Region 6 ranked no. 6 in terms of high inflation rate.

Among the provinces in the region, Antique had the highest

inflation rate in 2014 posting 6.8 percent; followed by Guimaras at

5.0 percent; and Iloilo at 4.9 percent. (LTP/PIA-Iloilo)

Making a stand. As others sat, several HNU

SEED and tourism students made a stand for

the environment and walked in slippers or

barefoot to pool slippers for deprived children

and to reconnect the body from the earth in

attempts to start a healthy lifestyle. (rac/

PIABohol)

Various local government units and the

Province of Negros Occidental enter into an

agreement with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für

I n t e r n a t i o n a l e Z u s a m m e n a r b e i t

(G I Z ) - P r o t e c t e d A r e a M a n a g e m e n t

Enhancement (PAME) for environment-related

projects. The MOA was signed by Gov. Alfredo G.

Marañon (seated, 4th from left), GIZ-PAME

program manager Dr. Berthold Schirm (extreme

right) and other officials. (EAD-PIA6 photo)

Focused discussion on gender and

development resource person Lovelle Lapura

(right) enlightened PIA 8 regional office staff

and some invited guests from the Association

of Government Information Officers (AGIO)

and the private media with her lecture in line

with the Women‟s Month celebration held at

the PIA regional office, Tacloban City, March

23. (Vino R. Cuayzon)

PH 5th PH 5th PH 5th

largest GDP largest GDP largest GDP

contributor contributor contributor

in 2014in 2014in 2014

WESTERNWESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 222

Parents should monitor social media use of kids

NEGROS OCC., March 24 (PIA6) --The social media has brought people closer across the globe but evil minded persons have

turned it into a platform to commit crimes.

I t is in this setting that the role of

parents come into play where

women become easy targets of

sweet-talking men who are supposed to be their

friend either on Facebook or thru cellphone.

Negros Occ. Provincial Police Office Wom-

en and Children‟s Desk Head Capt. Vanessa Gayle

Sonoy said the friendly and love relations that

develop through these media sometimes end in

tragedy where one partner is either robbed

or molested when they arranged to meet in

person.

The usual victims are young women, she

added. “The oft-repeated advice - never trust a

stranger - is a basic guide that‟s applicable here.”

To avoid these crimes, she said parents

should guide their children by knowing what their

activities are and with whom they go out with.

She said the parents have direct relations to their

children and have the responsibility of focusing

the minds of youngsters on more important

things over other teenage concerns.

Sonoy further advised parents not to

tolerate the wrongdoings of their children

and seek to be abreast of their interests like

learning to use the social media themselves.

As the youths spend more time in school,

the teachers are also requested to teach them

preventive guides to stay out of Cyber Crimes,

she said. (JCM/Lljr-PIA6)

by Lorenzo O. Lambatin Jr.

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, March 26 (PIA) – Capiz Governor Victor Tanco commended the information officers for the continued

goal in promoting public awareness.

I n his message, delivered by Provincial

Administrator lawyer Jose Villanueva

during the recent induction ceremony of

the newly elected officers, Tanco lauded the

members of the Capiz Association of

Government Public Information Officers for its

vision to usher the best service and

enabling Capiceños through information

dissemination.

He said that while the information

officer‟s role is to advance awareness,

knowledge and transparency to the public, they

are also becoming agents of peace and

progress for the community as part of public

duties.

Tanco also urged the public information

officers to maintain the observance of

propriety and sobriety in leading the

organization as well as uphold the honor while

representing the organization.

He also called the members of the

CAGPIO to be armed with steadfast

dedication and full commitment towards public

service.

The governor likewise pledged the

support of the provincial government for a

more proactive and productive partnership in

order to forge a synergy in serving the

Capiceños.

For his part, Provincial Administrator

Villanueva reiterated the assurance of

governor Tanco and the entire provincial

government of Capiz for CAGPIO and the

Philippine Information Agency in the goal

towards peace and development in the

province.

“We count on PIA and CAGPIO in

helping us remain as transparent, responsible

and accountable as every information outfit like

you,” Villanueva stressed.

He also asked the information officers and

the media to help in bringing to the great

level of competitiveness the province of

Capiz so that it will become among the ranks

of first.

The induction of newly elected officers

led by Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction

and Management Officer Esperedion

Pelaez was also graced by PIA Regional

Operations Officer Jaime Cabag, Jr. and

Regional Trial Court Judge Honorable Esperan-

za Isabel Poco-Deslate, who was the associa-

tion‟s president in 1996. (JCM/JBG/PIA6-Capiz)

Guv lauds Capiz information officers By Jemin B. Guillermo

ILOILO CITY, March 25 (PIA6) --- The newly-installed Ilongga honorary consul of the Spanish government for Western

Visayas is planning to bolster partnerships between Spain and the region here.

Ilongga consul links Spain and WVisayas

By: Leonard T. Pineda I

M aria Rosa Cacho, who is also the

p r o v i n c i a l h e a d o f G a w a d

Kalinga-Iloilo, said that she will push

for more investment and tourism

opportunities for Western Visayas to bring in

more businesses here.

“I plan to bring in more partnerships and

find social entrepreneurs in Spain who are

willing to put up businesses here to generate

more jobs for the Ilonggos,” she said.

As the honorary consul, she has

functions of representing the consulate

with the Spanish nationals living in

Western Visayas, carry out administrative

activities to assist the needs of

Spanish citizens, and make contacts with local

authorities.

Cacho said that she will also conduct

cultural activities, trade and commerce

promotion that will strengthen the linkage

between Spain and Region 6.

“I also decided to accept this post for the

healing because people kept talking about

the Spanish colonization but they were gone

for more than a hundred years ago,” she

stressed.

“I think it is time that we should

not make it as excuse if the Philippines

is not progressive for it is up to us, and

i t has noth ing to do anymore

that we were colonized so many years ago,”

she added.

Cacho also shared that she plans to form

an organization or association of Spanish

nationals here in the region.

“I have established a Facebook page to

connect everybody and this will be a good start

to invite them for meetings and fellowships,”

she said.

According to Cacho, there are some 240

Spanish citizens in Western Visayas. Of the

number, 160 are in Negros Occidental while

60 or 70 are from the different provinces in

Panay.

She also clarified that issuance of Spain

visas to Ilonggos is not part of her responsibil-

ity as honorary consul

“I am not allowed to give visas nor

process the Spanish passports mainly because

they need to show the fingerprinting in the

consulate in Manila,” she said.

Cacho, whose great grandfathers are

Spanish, is the first honorary consul in

Western Visayas. She is the fourth one to be

appointed in the country following the consuls

in Cebu, Bicol, and Mindanao. (JCM/LTP/

PIA-Iloilo)

WESTERN WESTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 333

SAN JOSE, Antique, March 27 (PIA6)—This year‘s theme of the Women‘s Month celebration ―Juana ang Desisyon mo ay

Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na‖ describes women leadership and decision making as essential to

development.

M arilou Llavan, Program Officer of

Antique Human Deve lopment

P rogr am , a non - governmen t

organization working for the empowerment of

rural women for more than two decades now,

said women leaders excel in organizations of

farmers and fisher folks.

Based on experiences in the rural

areas, she said, the statistics are quite

different compared to government offices

wherein few women occupied leadership or

managerial positions.

There are lots of women leaders in

organizations of farmers and fisher folks.

We have seen the advancement of

women decision makers in terms of livelihood

activities or sources of income, said Llavan.

Take the case of agro-forestry, women

are more bent on planting fruit trees and

vegetables and other cash crops compared

to the preference of men which is more on

timber trees, she said.

The same is true with the fisher folk or-

ganization since fishing is a seasonal

venture. When it is off-season for fishing,

women play an important role in meeting the

immediate needs of the family.

As to women participation in

cooperatives, Llavan said cooperatives are

composed of 70% women members.

Lllavan emphasized that women‟s

participation is a major consideration in all

their undertakings.

On the other hand, Prisceli Joyce Galuego,

Provincial Women„s Desk Coordinator, shared

some statistics of women occupying leadership

position in the province as reported by

the Department of the Interior and Local

Government.

On top of the leadership position is the

newly installed woman governor; however, no

woman member has been elected for

Sangguniang Panlalawigan which is the

legislative body of the province.

For municipal mayors and vice mayors,

two (2) or 11% and four (4) or 22% of the 18

towns respectively are women while for

Sangguniang Bayan – 39 out of 144 or 27 % are

women.

Women Leadership in the Provincial

Department – out of 33 managerial

positions, eight (8) are occupied by women or

24%.

Galuego said there‟s the need to

catch up in number of women occupying

managerial positions in government. (JCM/PSM/

PIA6 Antique)

Women leaders essential to development

By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao

DPWH ensures safe travel with ‗Lakbay Alalay‘

By: Elsa S. Subong

ILOILO CITY, March 26 (PIA6)—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Western Visayas is activating its

―Lakbay Alalay‖ Project for the Holy Week observance, starting 6 a.m. of April 1 until 12 noon of April 6.

D PWH-6 Director Edilberto Tayao

said in an advisory, that he had

instructed the district engineers of all

Engineering districts in the region to create a

composite crew, including an anchorman

who will assist the travelling public in strategic

locations in their areas.

Tayao also said that he had directed the

district engineers to coordinate with the Land

Transportation Office, the Philippine National

Police and the officials of local government

units so that required assistance will be

provided.

“They have also been ordered to submit

situationer reports every six hours,” Tayao

said.

With the huge influx of people expected

in some areas, the engineering offices were

also instructed to ensure that all national

roads, particularly those leading to churches

and terminals, should be thoroughly

maintained and always kept in good shape for

safer travel and ensure uninterrupted transport

flow.

Along with these, various highway routine

maintenance, such as in carriageway and

road,side, should be implemented.

“Traffic service maintenance should also

be vigorously undertaken,” Tayao added.

He further said that the endeavours

will be intensified by the provision of

informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic

advisory, as well as directional signs

which will be installed to assist the

public. (JCM/ESS/PIA-Iloilo)

BIR honors Aklan's top taxpayers

KALIBO, Aklan, March 27 (PIA6) -- Four top tax papers in Aklan were among those honored by the Bureau of Internal

Revenue during the 2015 Tax Campaign Kick-Off held March 27 at the Grand Ballroom of Amigo Terrace Hotel in Iloilo City.

A ccording to Eralen B. de Aro, Revenue

District Officer of RDO No. 7, Kalibo,

Aklan, these top taxpayers are

Federico J. Jarantilla of Seawind Resort and

Hotel in Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan and the

Estate of Wilfredo M. Gelito of Willy‟s Resort,

Boracay Island for Individual Category, and

Discovery World Corporation and

Boracay Island Water Company, Inc., both also

located in Boracay Island, as top corporate

taxpayers.

To be honored too are top taxpayers of

the provinces of Capiz, Antique and Iloilo in

the kick-off participated in by five revenue

district offices like RDO-72 Roxas City, Capiz,

RDO-73 San Jose, Antique, RDO-74 Iloilo City

and RDO 75 Zarraga, Iloilo and the regional

office, revenue region 11, Iloilo City.

The 2015 regional Tax Campaign Kick-Off

had Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe as

keynote speaker.

Aiming for greater participation and

cooperation among Filipinos to pay their

taxes as their contribution to nation building,

the theme of this year‟s campaign is “Angat Pa,

Pinas”!

Meanwhile, RDO De Aro reiterated her

call to Aklan taxpayers to file their income tax

returns early to avoid the rush.

On April 11, Saturday, BIR offices will

accommodate filers.

Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) will also

be accommodating filers on weekend.

BIR-Aklan Information Officer Elaine

Tirazona said banks accepting tax

payments are Land Bank of the Philippines,

United Coconut Planters Bank, Development

Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Veterans

Bank and the Metropolitan Bank and Trust

Company.

Deadline of filing is April 15, 2015. (JCM/

VGV PIA6 Aklan)

Venus G. Villanueva

CENTRALCENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 444

DUMAGUETE CITY, Mach 21 (PIA) – Women empowerment advocates in Dumaguete City continue to call for an increased

participation and representation of women in decision making processes in their community.

Women advocates stress women participation in

decision making

P rovincial Commission of Women (PCW)

Chairperson Phoebe Tan says this year‟s

celebration of Women‟s Month, “Juana,

desisyon mo ay mahalaga para sa kinabukasan ng

bawat isa, Ikaw na!” highlights the role of women in

the decision making, whether in their respective

homes or in their barangays.

Tan stressed it is important that women

participate in processes to create more awareness

of women‟s capability to take on leadership

responsibility as well as to promote advancement of

women in the society. She further noted that up to

now, a lot of women at the grassroots level are still

afraid to take on leadership roles and are scared to

be involved in policy making because they have

doubts about their capabilities.

Because of this, the challenge for women to

rise in leadership and policy development continues

up to this time. “This has been a challenge for over

a long time. Until now, this is not yet realized. Let

us evaluate, are we able to make decisions (even) at

home?” she added.

Tan urged women to start believing in

themselves that they can handle these

responsibilities so they could be more empowered

and advance their lives. Tan suggests „Juanas‟ should

have more exposure to more development sessions

and trainings.

She encouraged women to attend as much

development sessions as they can and not only

during the observance of Women‟s Month or

during the assemblies of women‟s group.

She also made an appeal to men to allow their

wives to attend these development sessions to

express support to women empowerment. The

PCW Chairperson emphasized that „Juanas‟ should

be part of policy making because there are issues in

which they can express their opinion.

She cited issues on disasters, reproductive

health and livelihood as some of the important

concerns that affect women.

Friends of the Environment in Negros

Oriental (FENOR) and also a member of the PCW

Judith Alpuerto said, women has a role in keeping

environmental sustainability.

Alpuerto disclosed that rural women can help

rehabilitate forest areas by planting native

trees which are slowly decreasing. She

explained that these trees help a lot in absorbing

water and preventing floods and other kinds of

disasters.

For those living in urban areas, women should

take the lead in mobilizing the barangay in proper

waste segregation. In that way, they are also helping

to protect the environment.

On the other hand, Dumaguete City Sports

Coordinator Ike Villaflores also suggested

that women should get into sport

as a way of empowering themselves.

Viillaflores underscored that only few women excel

in sports but he pointed out that sports promotes

equality, health and unity and provides leisure for

women.

He said women need to be engaged in various

sports activities to shake off stress and prevent

lifestyle diseases.

With this, he encourages women to form

groups in their respective barangays that will push

for more sports opportunities for „Juanas‟.

He shared that the City Sports Department

is open for meetings with the barangay council and

women residents of each village to discuss how his

department can provide support to sports needs of

the community.

Like Tan, Villaflores also made a call to

husbands to allow their wives to join in sports

activities because “Juanas need to have time for

themselves.” (mbcn/ral/PIA7-NegOr)

CEBU, March 25 (PIA)-- The half a million worth of Shared Service Facility package is seen to boost manufacturing of

processed coconut raw materials of farmers in Toledo City.

M ag uuma Nagkahiusa sa Sam-ang ug

Magdugo (MANAGSAMA) chair Benjamin

Siaboc said, from the usual 50 to 80

coconuts skinned and grated manually every day,

the group can now process more than 300 pieces

and shorten the processing time from five days to

one day. This after the Department of Trade and

Industry (DTI) handed over three main

equipment-- the deshelling machine, coconut meat

grinding and desiccated dryer as part of the Shared

Service Facility package.

"There are many of the farmers who will benefit

from this and may no longer have to leave the

barangay and go to the city, " Siaboc said.

An official from the Southern Partners

and Fair Trade Center Inc Rolando

Labradores said, they expect to haul 200 kilos a

week with the SSF interventions. Fair Trade buys

Toledo City farmers materials which are either

raw or semi processed. Labradores said, this

time they can sell the desiccated coconuts

because of its value added. A kilo of desiccated

coconut is at P70.

On the other hand, coconut briquettes

(charcoal) is also another product to profit

from. With the briquetting machine, they can now

produce charcoal faster at P12.50 per kilo.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said,

they hope that the farmers will really use these

machines since Toledo is among the 11 in Central

Visayas DTI selecfed as recipients of the

S S F . R e p r e s e n t i n g T o l e d o C i t y

government, Fernando Marquez said the local

governmt will make sure the equipment are well

taken cared of.

Other than the machines, DTI also extended

trainings to farmer-members. MANAGSAMA has

over 200 members and has been existing since

2007. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)

SSF to boost coco farmers raw material production

DUMAGUETE CITY, March 23 (PIA) --The Water and Sanitation Program of World Bank (WSP-WB) in cooperation with the

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided skills training for masons and on entrepreneurship skills to

over 20 Pantawid Pamilya (4Ps) grantees in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

4Ps trains on toilet production in NegOr

I n support of the zero open defecation

(ZOD) campaign, the participant-grantees

of DSWD were trained for entrepreneurial

skills to produce toilet bowls.

Water and Sanitation Program of World

Bank(WSP-WB) consultant Engr. Marieto

Perez said this technical assistance not only

intends to prepare poor household-beneficiaries

for income-generating opportunities but the

community to have access to low cost affordable

toilets.

Provincial Technical Working Group

(PTWG) for ZOD campaign has targeted to train

beneficiaries in masonry and carpentry to

construct toilets for the remaining 24 percent

household who are still without access to sanitary

toilets.

Perez explained that giving out latrines for

free to households is not effective and would not

change their behavior to use it properly.

“With this kind of strategy, the trainee

initiates his own livelihood with one sack of

cement he can produce six to eight toilet bowls

and sell it to a lower price in the barangay,” said

Perez.

The municipal engineers also participated in

the skills training to assist the beneficiaries and

aimed to cascade or train to other barangays in

the towns.

This is to encourage pantawid beneficiaries

to see the importance of proper hygiene and

sanitation and help protect them from infectious

diseases, said Perez.

The PTWG has identified barangays in the

province which has high number of open

defecation cases and started to adopt the

Community- Led Total Sanitation (CLTS)

approach, the development of local sanitation

enterprise-sanitation marketing.

Meantime, the PTWG has set to visit local

government units to encourage local councils to

craft an inclusive sanitation policy agenda,

specifically appropriate and timely ordinances that

address the issue of open defecation and poor

access to improved sanitation.

The group lead by Provincial Health

Assistant Officer Dr. Edgardo Barredo will

visit Mabinay on April 6; Tanjay City and Pamplina

on April 8; Bais City and Manjuyod on April 13;

and April 15 to Dauin, Zamboanguita and

Siaton. (mbcn/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)

Roi Anthoni B. Lomotan

BY JENNIFER C. TILOS

Ferliza C. Contratista

CENTRAL CENTRAL VISAYASVISAYAS 555

CEBU, March 24 (PIA) --- The Philippine Navy Naval Forces Central in Cebu recently completed a two-week joint military

training exercise with the US Navy.

P art of the exercise was a Visit Board

Search and Seizure where the Philippine

Navy and US Navy teams simulated a

rescue mission of a hostage situation aboard a

vessel along Mactan channel in Cebu.

The simulation was done twice in less than

two hours involving 15 members of the US Navy

and 14 from the Philippine Navy‟s Naval Forces

Special Operations Unit.

According to Naval Forces Central

Spokesperson Lt. James Reyes, the exercise aimed

to develop the personnel‟s skills in conducting

special maritime operations and their ability in

close quarter combat, marksmanship, and combat

board and search.

“We saw the need to develop the men‟s

special maritime operations, especially since Cebu

and the Philippines are surrounded by water and

this is one of the activities that we can undertake

and help us become ready to respond to any

situation,” Reyes told the media who witnessed

the joint exercise.

The exercise also served as an exchange of

knowledge between the US Navy team and the

Philippine Navy team.

“It was not only the Philippine Navy who

learned from the US Navy, they also learned from

us. It was an exchange of specialty and knowledge,

a consolidated effort,” he said.

The joint military exercises is done annually

in line with the Philippine-US Mutual Defense

Treaty and the Visiting Forces Agreement. (rmn/

PIA7-Cebu)

Philippine Navy, US Navy hold military

training exercise in Cebu

Rachelle M. Nessia

BOHOL, March 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry warns the public against substandard

construction materials sold in Bohol and in neighboring areas.

DTI warns consumers: Watch out for substandard construction materials

D TI-7 regional director Aster Caberte

said the agency is closely monitoring

standards compliance for consumer

products and construction materials, especially

during this time that Bohol LGUs are

currently undergoing reconstruction and

rehabilitation efforts after the October 2013

earthquake.

DTI recently confiscated some P258,326

worth of substandard construction materials

already displayed in six establishments from

Tagbilaran City and in Tubigon town.

The DTI along with a group from the Fair

Trade and Enforcement Bureau issued notices of

violations to the same stores for selling

construction materials that could not pass the

Philippine National Standards (PNS).

Caberte said the DTI does this according to

the mandates of Republic Act 7394 or the

Consumer Act of the Philippines

The consumer Act mandates DTI to conduct

monitoring and enforcement activities on the

proper marking and labelling of consumer

products.

“We have notified our field offices in the

provinces to increase the frequency of their

market visits to check on more products,

including electrical supplies,” Caberte added.

According to the DTI, so as not to be

fooled into buying substandard construction

materials especially in plywood, deformed bars

and galvanized iron sheets for roofing, consumers

must do the following:

Check the basic markings on the plywood

and galvanized iron (GI) sheets prior to

purchase. These basic markings include company

name, trade name and the address of the

manufacturer.

The DTI added that consumers must

check the thickness in millimeter (mm); width in

mm and the date of manufacture (month and

year).

G.I. sheet markings must contain the phrase

“For Roofing Use” on its face, DTI reminds.

Consumers should be aware that

despite strict monitoring by government agencies

tasked to implement product standards, some

enterprising businessmen still sell products that

could not pass the test of strength needed to

construct disaster resilient structures. (mbcn/rac/

PIA7-Bohol)

Rey Anthony H. Chiu

CEBU CITY, March 26 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 urged the public to

pledge and to go ‗Beyond the Hour‘ as the world observes Earth Hour by switching off the lights for one hour in support to a

global campaign to mitigate climate change and global warming on March 28, from 8:30-9:30 in the evening, bared Dr. Eddie

Llamedo, head of the Regional Public Information Office of DENR-7.

DENR-7 urges everyone to join ‗Earth Hour‖ on Mach 28

L lamedo added, this as the country intends

to take part in the observance of Earth

Hour on March 28.

DENR-7 regional director Dr. Isabelo

Montejo explained, “We have seen the

tremendous impact of climate change and this has

been attributed to overconcentration of

greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and carbon is

released in the process of producing power or

electricity from coal.”

He added, the Philippines has been

dependent on coal-fired or fueled which is

considered as „unclean‟ source of energy because

it emits a certain amount of carbon which is one

of the GHGs.

Dubbed as the single, largest, symbolic mass

participation event in the world, Earth Hour is

held every last Saturday of March on the initiative

of the Washington-based environmental group

World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF),

said Llamedo

The DENR-7 official added that the

participating offices or institutions in Earth Hour

shall shut off all lights including streetlights,

signages and key monuments, appliances and

other electronics in support of efforts to solve

the problems related to climate change and glob-

al warming.

Carbon footprint refers to the totality of

the impact or effect of all activities done

by an organization, group or individual on the

environment. It covers all greenhouse gases

that each individual or organization may

emit in the atmosphere as a result of its

activities.

Changing light bulbs to compact fluorescent

light (CFLs) instead of incandescent bulbs may

help in conserving energy as CFLs use up 75

percent less electricity and last up to 13 times

longer, according to Llamedo

“The idle cell phone chargers which when

not unplug still consume 25 percent of their

energy wattage consumption so it is important

to avoid overcharging our mobile phones,” he

added.

Montejo pointed out that DENR Secretary

Ramon J. P. Paje issued a memorandum directing

all lights in all DENR offices and their vicinities

nationwide to switch off in support to Earth

Hour.

Paje likewise called on all local government

units, educational institutions, commercial

establishments, outdoor advertisers, civic groups

and households to do the same.

“The Philippines has consistently registered

the most number of participating towns and

cities, earning the distinction as an “Earth Hour

Hero Country” since it first joined the event in

2008,” Montejo added.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney,

Australia when 2.2 million residents switch off

the lights of their homes and offices in order to

pledge their support to saving the environment.

The trend soon caught on and several other

countries participated across the globe in the

initiative.

WWF is the world‟s largest and

most experienced conservation organization,

operating in over 100 countries through

the support of over five million people

worldwide.

Last year, a record of 7,000 cities and

municipalities from 150 countries observed the

60-minute lights-out for the environment. (mbcn/

jsme/PIA7-Cebu/DENR7)

Juju M. Empuerto

EASTERN EASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 666

'Summer in Samar' offers snorkelling,

swimming, white water rafting

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 26 (PIA) - Samar guests may try snorkelling, swimming, white water rafting and other

eco-tourism adventures through an aggressive campaign called ―Summer in Samar‖.

“ Let us disprove that Samar is an insurgency

hotspot, a typhoon stricken land and the

home of the Waray-Waray gangsters. Samar

is the new emerging alternative tourist destination

this summer," one government official said.

To prove that the province has gone beyond

this negative impression. the province will

launch “Summer in Samar” campaign to hook

yuppies in backpacks from neighboring towns and

other parts of the country to try the different

„tourism ready‟ destinations.

Governor Sharee Ann Tan in a recent

meeting stated that she is endorsing the Sta Rita,

Marabut, Basey tourist loop where tourists can

experience the grand San Juanico Bridge in Sta Rita,

frolick in the white beaches of Marabut and sail in

the Golden River in Basey to check out the world

famous Sohoton cave, the tourist can also go

shopping with decorative mats from the „tikog

reed‟ and even experience weaving mats with the

locals in some caves.

Another tourist destination is the Olot River

where adventurists can go white river rafting with

experienced boatmen in torpedo-like boats, they

can watch the last forest frontier in the country.

Only in Samar are exotic flora and fauna and

in a rare experience may watch the Monkey eating

eagle soar.

The Pinabacdao mangrove site also offers a

natural spawning ground for the rich marine

life that Samar produces.

As to history, it was Samar island particularly

Homonhon (now part of Guiuan, E Samar) which

signaled the discovery of the East in 1521. It is also

considered the 3rd largest island in the country.

The missionaries also established the Catholic Faith

in October 1596 with the coming of the Jesuits.

Samar also gained national significance during

the second world war. Due to its proximity to

Leyte, war preparations versus the Japenese

Imperial forces spilled over to Samar. Significantly

famous is the Battle of Samar Sea.

As the grand launch gets near, the tourism

council is preparing an opening salvo of A Grand

Night under the Samar Sky where the local

government with some invited celebrities can

welcome tourists through a night of cultural

relevance and gastronomic fiesta of the rich marine

produce of the island.

Tourists and balikbayans are then urged: Try

Summer in Samar!” (ajc/nbq/PIA 8-Samar)

Naval CSOs support campaign vs illegal drugs

“ Time has come when no one government can

stop the menace brought about by illegal

drugs. It cannot anymore just be the

responsibility of one but the responsibility of all,”

Naval Mayor Susan V. Parilla emphasized in her

letter-invitation calling the different heads of civil

society organizations in Naval to a meeting held

recently at the Naval conference hall to come up

with plan of actions geared toward fighting illegal

drugs.

Engr. Warlito Alagao, head of the Knights of

Columbus (K of C) of Naval Diocese, pushed the

idea of posting tarpaulins bearing anti-illegal drug

messages and asked the LGU to install closed

circuit television cameras (CCTVs) in conspicuous

and strategic places of this town. “We will also

post tarpaulin bearing anti-illegal drugs messages in

every barangay,” the K of C head promised as the

commitment of their group in the fight against

illegal drugs

Another idea that cropped up during the

meeting was the holding of anti-illegal drugs fun run

endorsed by Naval councilor Gabino S.

Velasquez IV, who is also the president of the

Biliran Medical Society. “This is one way of bringing

the message to the people behind the illegal activity

that the people in the community are now well

aware and vigilant of the wrong they have done in

the community,” Velasquez informed.

Lolita Darantinao, representing the Catholic

Women‟s League (CWL) of the Diocese of Naval

and Paulina Olaivar, representing Mother Butler, of

the religious organizations in the diocese,

suggested a comprehensive information

dissemination campaign in the community on the ill

-effects of illegal drugs. Representatives of some

CSOs also suggested to focus on schools in the

information drive and even appealed to ask the

officials of the Department of Education to

include the teaching of the ill-effects of illegal drugs

in schools. Mayor Parilla also gave hotline numbers

09173087374 and 09126708668 to call on or send

messages to, in case of any suspected illegal drugs

activities spotted in the community. (ajc/fj/rvictoria/

PIA 8 Biliran)

NAVAL, Biliran, March 20 (PIA) - This time, finding solutions to the problem on illegal drugs does not solely rest on

government functionaries, as different civil society organizations (CSOs) in this town signified their strong commitment in the

campaign against this social menace.

RODRIGO S. VICTORIA

NINFA B. QUIRANTE

NMP's seafarer courses undergo inspection TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, March 20 (PIA) – The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) here underwent a three-day inspection

of its five seafarer courses as part of the accreditation process conducted by the Maritime Industry Authority.

N MP‟s five Standards of Training,

Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW)

courses are: Operational Use of

Electronic Chart Displace and Information

System, Ratings Forming Part of Navigational

Watch, Ratings Forming Part of Engineering

Watch, Consolidated Marine Pollution 73/78

Annex I-VI, and Ship Security Awareness Training

and Seafarers with Designated Security Duties.

During the inspection, specific key areas

(SKAs) were assessed against requirements which

include the program implementation of each of

the courses with regard to the incorporation of

knowledge, understanding and proficiency from

the STCW Code; Qualifications of instructor/s,

assessor/s and supervisor; teaching process;

written policies and procedures in relation to

program implementation; course intakes;

classrooms; training equipment; books and

teaching aids; assessment system manuals; and

quality system documents.

Prior to the inspection, NMP had already

structured a pool of accredited trainers and guest

lecturers who will be handling the five courses as

instructors, assessors and training course

supervisors. Although satisfactory in several of

the SKAs, NMP was given 30 days to comply with

the minor deficiencies cited by the MARINA

accreditors. The inspection team was composed

of MARINA STCWO personnel and Maritime

Education and Training Standards Supervisors,

Marissa L. Dasmariñas, Capt. Samie Lou L.

Sedurante, Presca Lee B. Lugo, and Engr. Ronnie

D. Gernato.

In addition, NMP is set to submit for

accreditation nine other courses which include

Basic Training with four modules, namely, Fire

Prevention and Fire Fighting, Personal Survival

Techniques, Personal Safety and Social

Responsibility, and Elementary First Aide;

Advanced Fire Fighting; Proficiency in Survival

Craft and Rescue Boats other than Fast Rescue

Boat; Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in

the Maritime Sector; Ship Simulator Bridge

Teamwork with Bridge Resource Management;

and Medical Emergency First Aid .

Meanwhile, NMP continues to offer its

Faculty Development Courses (IMO Model

Course 6.09 Training Course for Instructors;

IMO Model Course 6.10 Training Course for

Simulator Instructors and Assessors; and IMO

Model Course 3.12 Assessment, Examination and

Certification of Seafarers).

Other upgrading courses for marine officers

and ratings include Marine Electrical System,

Marine Refrigeration and Air Conditioning,

Maritime Law for Ship‟s Officers, STD/HIV/AIDS

Prevention in the Maritime Sector, Prevention of

Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the Maritime Sector,

and Gender Sensitivity Training for Seafarers.

The training schedule for these courses is

now available at NMP. For more inquiries and

reservation, you may call the Registrar Office thru

cell phone numbers: 09771269675 / 09298417490

o r e - m a i l i n f o @ n m p . g o v . p h o r

nmp.info@yahoo.com. (NMP/PIA-8)

EASTERNEASTERN VISAYASVISAYAS 777

SAC helps 'Yolanda' victims with their

livelihood

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, March 26 (PIA) - The Calbayog Diocese Social Action Center, through Fr. Cesar Aculan and

the Caritas group, is helping Barangay Salvacion folks in Basey town (Samar) to get up from the quagmire that Typhoon

Yolanda caused for them.

A s their livelihood is mostly getting

fish from the sea, the priest urged

them not just to catch but to culture

them.

On March 20, PIA witnessed the turn-over

of some fish cages materials that the island

fisherfolk can use like nets for their bangus, crabs

and grouper cages.

The 47-member group calls itself Barangay

Salvacion Island Fisherfolks Association and takes

turns in caring for the „fish species‟ from the

funding/sponsor agency.

However, they were somehow disappointed

that the frequent typhoons like Ruby, Seniang and

Amang dwarfed their prized bangus.

Aculan in his message urged them to be

more resilient, that they should prepare for any

calamity as their barangay is right there on the

typhoon belt.

Yvette Nachura, Program Director also tried

to lift up the group‟s spirit.

“We will continue to help you,” said

Nachura in the dialect, “ we will continue to

assist you because we see that your are

committed, it is just that forces of nature

are not yet kind to us, but soon it will be, let

us not be hopeless, you have survived the

deadly storm, you will survive again,” she

appeased them.

Junie Ragaodao, the group president, said

that the typhoons have taught them some lessons.

He said that their first harvest is so meager

compared to the effort they put in, but they have

learned their lessons and will try to contact,

consult the local agriculture technicians for some

concerns.

Aculan said that if they will continue to trust

the group with the project,

“We are not only turning over you the

materials but more - the responsibility that comes

with the project that will uplift your lives.”

On the side, Salvacion islanders have so

much to be thankful for the assistance that local

and international agencies have poured in, they

built them typhoon resilient houses in relocation

areas on higher grounds.

They were also provided livelihood

fund. Each household has either a livestock, a

vegetable garden, or a motorboat for fishing and a

sari-sari store.

“All of us have something productive to

attend to,” said kagawad Cherry Llegue who

showed the PIA team around the barangay

including where the newly built houses

were, the boats and the fish cages and the

vegetable gardens in their homes. (ajc/nbq/PIA

8-Samar)

NINFA B. QUIRANTE

BIR-8 hope for better collection performance in 2015

CANDAHUG, PALO, Leyte, March 20 - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region (RR) No. 14 officially launched

Monday its 2015 Tax Campaign at the jam-packed Multi-Purpose Building of the regional office in Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

I n his message, regional director Diosdado

R. Medoza said that "after Yolanda, the BIR

in the region has recovered and has set tax

collection and administration on a higher plane."

He said also that in the last three months of

2014, our Revenue Region consistently surpassed

its collection in collection target by 28.39% or

roughly Php307.8M.” He informed everyone that

in the 1st Quarter of 2015, with a very small

deficit in January 2015, the region had surpassed

its collection target in February with an increase

of 4.58% or P19.03 million.

The BIR has a collection goal of P1.704

trillion for 2015 compared to P1.456 trillion in

2014.

Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue

(DCIR) Nelson M. Aspe, speaking through a

prepared message read by Assistant Regional

Director Nasser A. Tangcor, thanked and

congratulated the taxpayers and the men and

women of RR No. 14, Tacloban City for their

support and contribution to the region‟s 2014

collection performance.

DCIR Aspe emphasized that there will be no

extension of the said deadline. The anticipated

summer brownouts will not be valid grounds for

the extension of the deadline or for the

abatement of penalties for late filing.

He encouraged taxpayers to file their

returns electronically. He warned that those

required by the BIR (e.g. TAMP Taxpayers and

NO Payment Returns Filers) to file their returns

online but who opt to file manually shall be

(penalized and be) the first priority for audit.

He concluded by asking all stakeholders to

help raise the P1.704 billion target of the BIR to

sustain the country‟s economic growth and

maintain its status as one of the world‟s fastest

growing economies.

The 2015 tax campaign theme “ANGAT PA,

PINAS” calls for greater cooperation among

Filipinos to pay their taxes as their contribution

to nation-building. The campaign logo takes cues

from the colors of the Philippine Flag, using

arrows that show an upward movement to

denote greater progress and positive change

for the country. The campaign jingle provides a

battle cry for Filipinos to work for a better

tomorrow.

The 2015 BIR Eastern Visayas Tax Campaign

was officially launched through a dance

interpretation of the “ANGAT PA, PINAS” video

jingle by the SAMLEYAW Dance Company. The

St. Paul Chorale sang the opening prayer and the

Philippine National Anthem with their angelic

voices.

The kickoff was attended by revenue

officials and personnel, local government

officials, tax practitioners, professionals, media

partners, business , profess ional and

academic organizations, and students from

Revenue District Office Nos. 85 (Catarman,

Northern Samar), 86 (Borongan City, Eastern

Samar), 87 (Catbalogan, Samar), 88 (Tacloban

City), 89 (Ormoc City), and 90 (Maasin City).

(BIR-8/PIA-8)

Roads are climate change resilient – MCA-P

BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar, March 25 (PIA) - In a recent press briefing, Millennium Challenge Account-Philippines

(MCA-P) assured that the secondary national road project is climate change resilient.

T he road rehabilitation project which is

already nearing completion, according to

MCA-P, follows specific road designs that

will weather harsh climatic conditions including

intense heat and rains.

During the briefing on March 19, members

of the press were shown road and drainage de-

signs with consultants explaining why a certain

design is used for a specific location.

According to officials, the rehabilitation

project not only includes the construction of

drainage systems, repair and reconstruction of

bridges but the installation of street lights as well.

With the recent spate of record-breaking

natural calamities, government has pushed for

designing infrastructure that will withstand the

forces of nature.

As of March 2015, MCA-P through its

contractors has completed 61.5% of the

222-kilometer road network from Paranas, Samar

to Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

The project, which broke ground in October

2012, is expected to be completed by 2016. (ajc/

Medora Quirante/PIA8-ESamar)

MEDORA NIMFA QUIRANTE

One Visayas e-newsletter is published weekly by the Visayas Regional Cluster of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) comprising Region 6, 7 and 8. Its main editorial office is located at PIA Region 6, Iloilo City.

One Visayas e-newsletter is part of the online news and information dissemination services of PIA and is powered by www.issuu.com. For inquiries and suggestions, call Tel. Nos. (033) 3378719/3377301 or e-mail piaamo6@yahoo.com.

Editorial Consultants

Ms. Minerva BC Newman Atty. Ma. Janet C. Mesa, Ph. D. Ms. Alicia E. Nicart

Regional Director, PIA 7 Regional Director, PIA6 Regional Director, PIA8

Managing Editor

Jaime S. Cabag, Jr.

Contributors

All PIA Information Officers of Regions 6, 7 & 8

Production and Layout

Edson J. Bañares Lynnor C. Regalado

Regional Offices:

PIA 6, 2/F RC Building, Rizal St., Iloilo City, Iloilo 5000, Tel. Nos. (033) 337-8719/3377301/509-0993, Fax No. (033) 337-8719/509-0993, e-mail: r6_pia@yahoo.com/ piaamo6@yahoo.com

PIA 7, Room 304, 3/F Machay Bldg., Garardo Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000, Telefax No. (032) 232-4062/232-4126, e-mail: pia7_cebu@yahoo.com.ph/r7_pia@yahoo.com

PIA 8, Children‟s Park Compound, Sen. Enage St., Tacloban City, Leyte 6500, Tel. No. (053) 325-5124, Telefax No. (053) 321-2029, e-mail: pia_ev@yahoo.com/r8_pia@yahoo.com